The Yardley's

In Ishinomaki our team was able to join the local missionaries in suffering alongside the victims of the tsunami. Just by helping them rebuild in the name of Christ has brought many to church and created interest in the gospel.

However, evangelism in Japan is notoriously difficult. One reason is because the Japanese value relationships and things that last. Thus, long term missionaries tend to have success after building relationships over a course of many years.

Down in Ube, which was unaffected by the tsunami, compassion ministries are not as common. Instead, missonaries and churches often rely on tracts, English classes, and gospel choirs.

Our team handed out tracts over several miles of neighborhoods surrounding the church today. Like the sower and the seed we pray that some will fall on good soil. Fortunately, Japanese are more receptive than Americans to tracts since they are avid readers or will read them as an act of reciprocity. However, going door to door has been adopted by others and our team saw Mormons in neighboods his week.

English is poplar in Japan. In fact it's everywhere. You'd be hard pressed to find apparel with kanji on it. Even most. Businesses have James using roman letters since they often desire to do business with America or internationally. So Japanese are usually interested in learning English; however, they want to learn it from native speakers. Most churches tend to have access to if not actual members who speaks English fluently. Thus, churches will use English classes as a form of outreach in which the primary lessons are based on the bible. Our team will help with several English classes this week.

Lastly is the gospel choir. Yes, gospel music is popular in Japan. One missionary told me that it's not uncommon for "Amazing Grace" to be sung at baseball games (they like the tune and know it has something to do with receiving a blessing). All Christian music tends to be considered gospel from hymns to contemporary worship songs, but gospel gospel is the preferred choice. Think "Sister Act" with Whoopie Goldberg. Japanese lives offen revolve around the clubs they join, but this one has robes and a moving beat. Unfortunately, they want to sing the songs as originally written in English. But this allows Christians to explain what the lyrics mean as a form of workessing.

There are no discipleship shortcuts and the culture barriers are immense, but fruit is seen by those who live among the people and take the time to build relationships with them in order to share the love of Christ.

Hi Brett, in doing research I'm trying to determine some Biblical principles. If you were in Japan prior to the tsunami, and have a sufficient history there, could you remember any genre or specific prophetic warning or work of God within the peoples of the affected areas?

Reply

Brett yardley

9/17/2013 09:56:50 am

Sorry Ben, I was in Japan because of the tsunami, so I wasn't there prior to the disaster. As you may be finding, many of the missionaries in the affected areas moved there from other parts of Japan after the tsunami as well since a lot of those cities were under reached.

Hi I am trying to reach out to everyone who is a Buddhist and trying to get them to come to Christ.

I come from a family of Buddhists relatives who I did not see in heaven. I got sick 2 years ago and met Jesus Christ for real. I did not see any Buddhist relatives there, no Buddha except for my mother who converted and repented on her death bed.

last July I was given a very bad dream of Buddhist friends in Hell, outer darkness. They are still alive and have a chance to come to Jesus. They ignore me. There are 480 million Buddhists who have no savior. I strongly believe they will die in their sins without a savior.

I am writing to anybody who will listen and share this testimony in order to save souls. Currently there is the testimony of a Buddhist monk who died 3 days and went to Hell. He saw Buddha there because he did not believe in God. you can find this testimony on the internet.

Thank you

Reply

Helen Fujishin

5/28/2016 07:39:39 am

God bless you and your heart for our Japanese people . Any new developments since this came out ? Where do you live- your testimony needs to be heard.
Blessings,
Helen Fujoshin

Reply

Megan

1/3/2018 11:58:17 am

Hello there,

I am visiting here in Japan and it makes me sad to see so many lost souls. My hotel is across the street from a shrine and there is such a huge crowd of people there. With only a few days left what can I do? I will be praying for workers to be sent out into the harvest.